Coming off a period of slower growth in 2024, the forum highlighted Kenya's resilience while addressing the persistent gap between current projections and the pre-pandemic historical average of 6%. Leaders emphasised that while the macroeconomic environment is stabilising, marked by inflation cooling to the 3.0% – 5.0% range, businesses must remain agile to counter external shocks and fiscal pressures.
 

"Businesses are operating in a landscape marked by global uncertainty, shifting trade dynamics, and rapid technological transformation," said Brenda Mbathi, Vice Chair of KEPSA. "Yet within these challenges lie significant opportunities. The private sector remains central to unlocking inclusive growth through investment, job creation, and productivity."
 

During the meeting, analysts argued that the economic landscape for 2026 is defined by a steady recovery and a concerted effort toward fiscal stabilisation. Leading the indicators is a projected GDP growth rate between 4.9% and 5.2%, signalling a resilient bounce back for the economy. It emerged that while there is a significant decrease in the rate of inflation to a more manageable range, there remains a lingering vulnerability in the prices of food and fuel, which continue to be susceptible to global market volatility.
 

Sandeep Main, Tax Partner & Head of Private Enterprise in Africa at KPMG, provided a broader context, noting that global growth is expected to edge up slightly to 2.7%. "In Africa, growth is projected to rise modestly from 3.9% in 2025 to 4.1% by 2027," Main stated, emphasising the need for strategic sourcing to combat supply chain fragility caused by US-China tech tensions.
 

The forum also issued a clarion call for businesses to diversify their funding. Frank Mwiti, CEO of the Nairobi Securities Exchange, expressed concern over the underutilization of capital markets.
 

"Capital has a memory. It remembers markets that opened when things were hard and those who chose transparency and integrity," said Mwiti. "I still don't understand why businesses are not utilising the massive opportunities of the capital markets to raise capital. We intend to work closely with KEPSA to help businesses access and sustain capital in 2026." He added.
 

The 2026 business landscape is defined by geopolitical volatility and economic shifting. Organisations are currently navigating rare-earth export disputes and fluctuating financing costs driven by central bank pivots. This environment has triggered a wave of market consolidation through tech-focused Mergers and Acquisitions, while simultaneously driving up compliance overhead due to more rigorous ESG mandates and cross-border tax reforms.
 

The 2026 Economic Outlook Forum concludes with a clear message for the Kenyan business community: while the path to 6% growth remains a journey, the current stability of the Shilling and slowdown of inflation provide a fertile ground for those willing to embrace transparency, innovation, and the capital markets.